DRUG users in Kirklees are set to get help from people who have been through the same experience.

People who have had a drug or alcohol problem have been urged to come forward as volunteers, to help others wanting to break free from similar addictions.

The volunteers are needed by anti-drugs and alcohol agency Lifeline Kirklees, based in Huddersfield town centre.

Pam Grainger, Lifeline's outlook team leader, said: "We already have a very successful volunteering scheme within Lifeline and want to extend it.

"Fifteen people who joined Lifeline as volunteers have gone on to get jobs in the organisation.

"The new volunteers we need will be known as peer educators.

"They will be people who have used drugs or alcohol and will have the experience and life skills to support others who are experiencing the same thing."

The peer educators will have a three-pronged role:

* To support people who have been arrested, charged and convicted of offences and given a drug treatment and testing order by magistrates, which means they must attend Lifeline. If they don't, they face being re-sentenced for the original offence.

* They will give drug users advice on lessening harm and encourage them to use clean needles and safe injection practices, to cut the risk of HIV and other blood-borne diseases.

* Promote the work Lifeline does and the many services it runs to help drug users and their relatives.

Pam said: "People who apply and are accepted will be trained.

"It gives them the opportunity to put something back into the community and get some vital work experience which could help them to gain employment.

"We recognise that people who have had substance misuse problems do have a lot of skills," she added.

Anyone interested in general volunteering should phone Laura Symons on 01484 353315.

People interested in becoming a peer educator should ring Pam Grainger, also on 01484 353315.